This is my most recent finished piece. I started it before I become very ill and physically disabled (I don't care to get into all the details of my health). I didn't know if I'd ever be able to do any artwork again because of the physical challenges. It's been a slow process, but my health has improved a bit. I am able to do some painting now (on "good" days) , though it's a slow process as I am limited to how much I can do in a day and I have to stop frequently to lie down. Even though I'm not able to put in the long hours of painting I did in the past I am thrilled to be able to paint again. Anyway...this painting I started before I became too ill to paint. I never knew if it would get finished or if I'd paint again at all. Normally there's a sort of "high" that goes with finishing a piece, but this one was extra special. It felt like a sort of victory...a triumph over illness/disability. I'm happy to report that I've started another painting. It will be my first painting done from start to finish since become ill. It will also be a special one. Thanks for looking!!

(forgive my poor photography skills! this piece is very bright in real life and the colors are very rich)

First art exhibit-woohoo! I am a self taught artist and wanted to show my work for the experience more than anything. I will have my work up for the entire month of October at a local cafe. I hung up everything last night and took some pics this morning. (Planning to go back to re-take pics when I have a little more time and can take better pics). I'm REALLY pleased with how it turned out and am really glad I did it. I learned a lot and am looking forward to doing more. Everything has a price tag, but I'm not really concerned with selling. Mostly I just wanted the experience and opportunity to learn. Also I did it 'cuz it took me waaaaaaaaay out of my comfort zone and challenged me in many ways. Thanks so much for sharing this exciting event with me!!

I'm working on a desert scene in acrylics. I'm having a lot of fun painting it and just finished this cactus today and wanted to share. The rest of the painting has a tortoise, hummingbird, and a kangaroo rat. The boulders in the foreground underneath the cactus I did with modeling paste, so they have some cool dimension to them (better seen in person). I'm really enjoying working on this one, but have been having terrible back pain and am having to take lots of breaks to lie down-so it's very slow going at the moment (not that there is any hurry to finish). I'm working on the kangaroo rat presently. Thanks for looking!

***UPDATE****I've finished this painting and really love it. It's a tough one to photograph because of the glitters and fold washes (and also I'm just not much of a photographer). The tortoise has rhinestone "scales". The sand is about 15 layers of paint and glitter. The sky has a few washes of gold over it that makes it look different depending on the angle you view it from. I'll be showing my paintings for the first time next month at a local cafe and I'm REALLY excited!!

A good friend is moving far away I made this as a little going away gift. The background is done in watercolors. Drawing is done in ink and colored with watercolor pencils. I found the quote online and really liked it. I'm looking forward to giving it to my friend this weekend. The pic isn't great, the colors are much brighter/prettier in person.

"New" converse. Zero money spent on this project...all stuff I already had at home.

These Converse I've had for at least 7 years. I decided to give them a makeover.

First I cleaned up the white part of the sole. They didn't get as white as I had hoped (if only I'd had a bleach pen!), but they are a million times less grungy than they were.

Then I drew my design on with pencil.

Next I painted in the areas I wanted to add color to with gesso.

Then I painted in the color. Then a layer of glitter paint.

I painted a black outline around all the colors to make them pop.

I tried dying the laces purple, but that didn't work well. They are tinted purple, which is better than dirty white...so-yay!

Last I added the heart charms to the laces. I bought similar shoe charms many years ago. I realized it's crazy easy to make my own. All they are is shank buttons with a heavy duty jump ring attached via the shank. Then just thread the laces through.

I LOVE these shoes!!! Can't wait to wear 'em. (Many hours went into this makeover)

I added stars and hearts in a rainbow of colors 'cuz I love hearts, stars, and rainbows. Added the word "love" on one shoe (it's just a happy word) and the name "Bunny" to the other (which is my dream name).

Made this blouse using Simplicity 2594. It was fun and pretty easy to make. I'll probably make another in a different fabric. I found the blouse to be totally unflattering without the belt (and still not super flattering with it). The pattern included a skinny little fabric belt, but I thought a wider belt would be cuter (I ended up just buying a belt). I used a cotton fabric, but I think a silkier type fabric might drape a little nicer.